Prediction: Mexico vs Uruguay

Verdict: Over 2,5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 13/10

Bookmaker: 888sport

NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, will be the venue that will host two teams that reached the knockout stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Mexico and Uruguay will battle in a friendly match this Friday, as both teams will try to continue their preparations for their upcoming challenges such as the 2019 Gold Cup and the 2019 Copa America, respectively. The game will kick off at 2:30 AM (BST).

Mexico

Interim manager Ricardo Ferretti will be in charge of El Tri ahead of this game. Following the departure of Juan Carlos Osorio, who was sacked after failing to reach the quarterfinals of a 2018 World Cup campaign that included a 1-0 win over Germany, now the Mexican Football Federation is in the process of finding a new manager. However, the Tigres UANL frontman decided to step up and help the squad until the end of the year. We are beginning to see some changes, though, because Mexico will probably undergo a renewal period. Rafa Marquez retired and household names such as Chicharito, Giovani dos Santos, Carlos Vela, and Miguel Layun are all absent of this squad. Instead, the current Tigres manager decided to call several up-and-coming players such as Roberto Alvarado, Diego Lainez and Erick Aguirre, among others. We will see if the bet pays off. But there is no question that the “new air” among the squad feels refreshing for a change.

Team News

There are concerns on Mexico’s training camp regarding potential injuries, although the absence of more established players such as Carlos Vela, Javier “Chicharito” and Giovani dos Santos is something that could affect the team’s quality overall.

Uruguay

This might sound like a coincidence, but Uruguay will also have an interim manager for this game. Fabian Coito will take over in replacement of Oscar Washington Tabarez. And Los Charruas arrive into this game following an impressive 2018 World Cup that saw them reach the quarterfinals, only to lose against the future champion, France, by 2-0. But La Celeste displayed some fine moments on Russian soil, and it is clear that Coito wants to begin with the renewal of the squad. Names such as Cristian Rodriguez, Luis Suarez and Diego Godin appear on the roster, but so do other young, up-and-coming players such as Rodrigo Betancur, Lucas Torreira and Nahitan Nandez, just to name a few. La Celeste will try to get one back against a Mexico side that holds the edge on the all-time record against them.

Team News

Uruguay will have a huge absentee ahead of this game, as Edinson Cavani won’t feature in this contest. He was left out of the current squad, and Celta Vigo star Maximiliano Gomez lived the same fate. Coito only called up 20 players for this match.

Key Factors to Consider

• These teams have only met on 20 occasions in all competitions. Mexico have the edge with a W8, D7, L5 mark.
• 12 previous head-to-head meetings have seen both teams scoring.
• Their last five meetings have seen three 3-1 wins for Mexico and two 1-0 wins for Uruguay.
• Can Luis Suarez continue breaking records? The Barcelona star already has 53 goals in 103 international games with La Celeste.
• Uruguay have scored at least once in each of their last five matches against Mexico.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that will be an open game. Expect over 2.5 goals scored easily.

Verdict: Over 2,5 goals scored – yes

Best Odds: 13/10

Bookmaker: 888sport